Gay Couple Loses Deportation Fight

Despite a number of recent wins on this issue.

Parents Sue To Prevent Late Daughter's Spouse From Receiving Benefits

Represented by the anti-gay Thomas More Society, the parents of a recently deceased Philadelphia lesbian are suing their late daughter's wife to prevent her from receiving her partner's profit-sharing benefits. Lawyers for the parents argue that the couple's Canadian marriage cannot be recognized under DOMA. Via Christian Newswire:

Thomas More Society attorneys argue that the parents are entitled to the funds because their daughter executed a beneficiary designation form in their favor before her death, and because Farley and Tobits' "marriage" was invalid under Federal and Pennsylvania law. Under the terms of the profit-sharing plan, the parents would be next in line when there is no spouse, even without a designated beneficiary form from the deceased. Therefore, they are legally entitled to the funds as Farley's surviving parents on two accounts.

"The deceased was fully aware of her rights under the law to designate her parents as the beneficiaries of her profit-sharing plan proceeds, even going so far as to state that she was 'single' in accord with the law. What Ms. Tobits is trying to do is circumvent both federal and state laws for her own financial gain. The Farleys merely seek to effectuate their daughter's final wishes, while her alleged 'spouse' seeks to unjustly pad her pocketbook," said Peter Breen, executive director and legal counsel of the Thomas More Society.

It sounds like the parents exerted some deathbed pressure for their daughter to sign over her estate.

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

New York marriage, hate groups, DOMA, and Al Franken.

Evan Wolfson On Obama/DOMA Repeal

Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

Lots of good news this week.

O'Donnell On Senate DOMA Debate

Sen. Chuck Grassley: My DOMA Witness Was Too Afraid Of Violent Gays To Testify

Think Progress has the transcript:

"The minority very much hoped to call a witness today at this hearing to testify in support of DOMA, I’m sure she would have done an excellent job. She declined, however, citing one reason the threats and intimidation that have been leveled not only her but her friends and family as a result of her support of DOMA. She will continue to write on the issue but will no longer speak publicly."

How convenient!

DOMA DEBATE: Sen. Al Franken PWNS Focus On The Family

Video courtesy of Think Progress.

LIVE VIDEO: Senate DOMA Debate

UPDATE: The live stream has concluded.

TODAY: Senate Considers DOMA Repeal

The U.S. Senate will today begin debate on the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. Among those scheduled to testify are a long list of gay Americans who've suffered under DOMA.

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider a bill that would do that and — for the first time — give federal benefits to same-sex couples who marry. Those benefits would have made a big difference for Ron Wallen of Indio, Calif., who spent more than half a century with Tom Carrollo. Carrollo died in March after a long illness, a few months shy of their third wedding anniversary. Now Wallen's not only grieving for his husband, but he's also facing financial chaos. "It's hard to accept that it's the American government that's throwing me out of my family home," Wallen told NPR. Under the federal Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, a marriage must be between a man and a woman. So Wallen is not entitled to get his husband's small monthly pension or his Social Security survivor's benefits, which are double the payments Wallen gets on his own.

Yesterday President Obama endorsed the repeal attempt, which of course has virtually no chance of passage in the U.S. House.